Have grabbed the laptop finally and can write a proper reply, yay!
Sal - good on you for getting back into it this weekend. We sort of attempted to but no go. Maybe tonight. See what time little X settles...
As for DD - sleep is better than when she was sick, she still wakes during the night sometimes... last night once, the night before twice... it varies from night to night. She's generally pretty easy to resettle, but she's waking early in the morning (between 5 and 6) so that sucks. We haven't tried the night light... She seems to be getting better... maybe! I think her four eye teeth (or canines?) are all through now so that's probably helping.
Jacki - so sorry to hear things are getting crazy for you guys. I am exhausted enough running around after toddler and dealing with X and he seems pretty settled and cruisey most of the time. I don't know how I'd be dealing with it if he was unsettled... I think I'd be moving in with the in laws!!!!!
I second the sling/carrier idea - I'm currently in possession of an Ergo, a baba sling and a hug a bub! Trying to work out which one I like the best... but for the times when X wants to be held and my DD is awake and needs attention, the carrier is invaluable. Liking the HAB best at the moment. Have you contemplated something like that? Might help??
Do you have much support? Family live near by? Any friends that could take toddler for a day, give you some good rest time? Spend the day in bed with DS? Big hugs... you sound exhausted.
Oh and WRT to the eczema - DD developed a little red spot on her cheek around 9wks, which turned into eczema over a few weeks. She had flare ups on her face, neck, some on her arms and also back of the knees. We did a few things to combat it...
- Cortisone/steroid creams to treat the initial outbreak (or when it got really bad - you can only use them once or twice a day, for only a few days as they are too strong to be used any longer)
- Only bathe in water, or use a bath oil - something soap free is the important thing (we switched to Dermaveen bath oil, seemed to help coat her skin and not dry it out)
- Dermaveen lotion for after bath - every bath
- Switching to a sensitive washing powder (we use Omo sensitive)
I hope some of those help! I can also report that she seems to have grown out of it... hasn't had a flare up since she was about 12mths. We still use Omo sensitive, we still bathe her in non-soap products (mostly) and I've still got the cortisone creams on hand, but touch wood we won't need them. I never changed her clothes... no one suggested that!
Emma - our days are dictated by what activity we have planned for DD, or if we need to go out anywhere or do anything. DD is generally awake between 6-7am (or earlier sometimes!!) and generally X feeds sometime between 5 and 7, after which he'll have a bit more sleep, so once he's asleep I do brekkie for me and DD and then get her and me ready. I can have a shower etc and she's happy to play in the bathroom or run up and down outside the bathroom terrorising the cat
Around brekkie and getting me and DD dressed I can throw on a load of washing or two, sort clothes, do dishes if I'm lucky. X generally wakes around 8 or 9, depending on when he fed, then I get him up and ready. He'll have some awake time - sits in the bouncer watching DD, has some tummy time/floor play, nappy off time on the change table... that's about it. They don't need a lot of interactive play stuff at this age - I do have a play mat that I'll be getting out soon!
So then we either go out for playgroup or something, or DD goes down for a sleep. X cat naps (he's having lots of awake time during the day ATM and little short sleeps) - so if we are out, he naps in the pram or the car, if we are home he naps in the bouncer or sometimes his cradle if I'm lucky. Sometimes he settles himself without needing anything from me, sometimes he feeds to sleep, sometimes he needs bouncing/rocking. I was so stressed out with DD, she needed to be rocked to sleep every single time and I was freaking myself out that I was "teaching her bad habits" and stuff. I'm trying to be a whole lot more relaxed this time around!
Night times are hectic - DH will get home some time in the afternoon (tradie hours) and we generally have an awake baby, a tired toddler, dinner to get ready and numerous other tasks! I'm trying to get X into the bedtime routine of feed, bath, feed, bed... seems to be getting there, apart from the bed thing, LOL. DH does baths (both kids together) and gets kids dressed for bed while I'm doing dinner or helping, we eat with DD, generally with me feeding X at the same time, then DD goes to bed at 7pm and we deal with X. Some nights he has been asleep by 6.30pm, most nights he'll feed, be awake, feed some more, doze, wake, feed... going to sleep some time between 9pm and 1am!
Once DD is in bed we can attempt to do dishes and washing (generally just nappies) and have some down time, as much as possible with X anyway.
Wow, that's very long... sorry! Will post this, give X a feed and come back for some more...
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